GERD in children will occur when stomach acid frequently flows back into the oesophagus, leading to discomfort and irritation. While some of the occasional episodes are very common in kids, specifically the infants, the persistent symptoms like frequent vomiting, heartburn, discomfort in the chest area and difficulty in digesting the food will indicate GERD. If it has been left unmanaged, it will affect the growth, appetite and overall health of the kids. So, managing GERD in kids will always require a combination of dietary changes, lifestyle modifications and in some cases, medical support. The basic motive in this particular case will be to reduce the episodes, relieve the discomfort and promote the healthy decision. So consistently remaining in touch with the pediatric gastroenterologist Bhubaneswar will be recommended for the parents so that they can contribute their best towards the health and overall well-being of the kids.

Important tips to manage GERD in kids

  1. Offering small and frequent meals: Large meals will put extra pressure on the stomach of the children, which will make the entire episode more likely. So, serving the smaller portions multiple times in a day instead of three large meals will be very important, and further, you should focus on preventing the children from finishing food if they are full. Including easy-to-digest items like soft fruits, steamed vegetables, and lean protein is a very good idea, so that things are very well sorted out without any problem.
  2. Avoiding the trigger foods: Certain food items can lead to issues in the stomach, which is the main reason that you should focus on avoiding them at all. This will be directly linked with the production of acid in the stomach, which is the main reason that you need to be clear about such aspects to avoid any problems. Some of the common triggers will be citrus fruit and juice, tomato and tomato-based products, chocolate, spicy food, fried food and carbonated drinks. Keeping a food diary to identify which of the items are creating discomfort and limiting the consumption or avoiding them will be totally recommended, so that there is no chance of any kind of issue with the kids.
  3. Encouraging the proper posture after meals: Lying down straight after eating will make it very easy for the stomach acid to flow back into the oesophagus, which is the main reason that you must focus on teaching the kids to remain upright for at least 30 minutes after eating anything. Avoiding the scheduling of naps and bedtime immediately after eating is also very important so that there is no chance of any kind of GERD-related problem.
  4. Elevating the head during sleep: The nighttime GERD will be very uncomfortable and will further lead to multiple issues for the kids. So, in the cases of older kids, elevating the head of the bed by approximately 6-8 inches with the help of blocks and a pillow will be very much recommended, and further, you should avoid using multiple soft pillows because this can lead to issues in the neck and further lead to multiple symptoms.
  5. Maintaining a healthy weight: Excessive weight will increase the pressure on the abdominal area, which will further lead to more frequent episodes of GERD. So, encouraging active gaming, outdoor games, and daily movement will be very important and offering the kids with balance, which is rich in fibre, protein, and healthy fats, will be a very good idea. Avoiding crash diets, which will focus on gradual and sustainable changes, will always be very important so that things are very well sorted out without any issues.
  6. Establishing the limit on late night eating: Eating too close to the bedtime will be leading to a significant number of issues in terms of frequency and intensity of GERD episodes which is the main reason that trying to finish dinner at least three hours before sleeping is highly recommended and if your child is hungry later on then offering them with a snack including the banana or small serving of yoghurt will be required if it can be easily tolerated. For such concerns, discussing these things openly with the pediatrics gastroenterologist in Bhubaneswar will be very much recommended for the parents so that there is no chance of any kind of wrong choices for kids at any point in time.
  7. Teaching slow and mindful eating to kids: Eating very fast will lead to a significant number of issues in terms of swallowing excessive air, which will further lead to bloating and further frequent episodes of GERD. So, when encouraging slow chewing and small bites, it will be very important for kids, so that distractions like TV and mobile devices will be avoided, which will further allow the children to eat mindfully without any problem.
  8. Choosing the gentle cooking methods: Consumption of heavy and oily meals will be leading to increased episodes of GERD which is the main reason that proceeding with the choices of methods like boiling, steaming, baking and grilling instead of deep frying will be recommended so that minimum oil and seasoning will be used which will never be creating any kind of irritation into the stomach.
  9. Promoting hydration but not during the meals: Drinking large amounts of liquid while eating will fill the stomach and lead to more episodes of GERD. So, offering water between meals rather than during meals will be very important so that there is no chance of any kind of problem, and additionally, you should avoid fizzy and acidic drinks, which can trigger the symptoms.

Conclusion: Managing GERD in kids will be based upon a combination of healthy eating habits with lifestyle changes and medical guidance whenever required, which is the main reason that additionally consulting the doctors at neurology hospital for child will also be recommended for parents so that long-term complications will be prevented and healthy growth will be supported at all times. With appropriate support, observation and consistency, children will be able to live life free of pain and without any disruption related to GERD.